Sheet stock container



June 16, 1964 R. E. ACKER 3,137,404 SHEET STOCK CONTAINER Filed Oct. 29, 1962 RA L PH E. A CK E R INVENTOR.

A T TORNE Y Patented Junel6, 1964 a 3,137,404 SHEET STOCK CONTAINER Ralph E. Acker, P.0. Box 11361, Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,735 3 Claims. (Cl. 217-56) This invention relates to containers for shipping layers of sheet material in a manner whereby their surfaces are protected against abrasion. Particularly, the invention is directed to a lightweight container of unusual strength which may be manufactured economically.

An object of the invention is to provide a container for packaging layers of sheet material, which container is stronger than prior containers for the same purpose and of corresponding size and weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telescoping box container for the described purpose wherein the side members are all of the same length and the end members are all of the same length and whereby the respective members are interchangeable for economy of construction.

A further object is to provide guide means on the inner projecting edges of the referred to end and side member for conveniently closing the telescoping box type container, and to reduce splintering when these members are made of wood.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the bottom half of a container in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the remaining or upper half of the container and showing the interior thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of the assembled container and showing tension bands therearound.

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged exploded fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the container.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same corner illustrated in FIGURE 4, but on a reduced scale, and showing the container in its closedposition, and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 3 and is enlarged relative to that figure.

In the drawing, the container 10 includes upper and lower rectangular panels 11 and 12 of the same size, which panels are preferably of double faced corrugated paper. Although other materials may be used for the panels 11 and 12, the corrugated paper has a cushioning effect, as will become apparent, when the container 10 is closed and bound with tension bands 13.

As best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, side members 1411 and end members a are located on the inner surface of the upper panel 11 and corresponding side and end members 1417 and 15b are located on the inner surface of the lower panel 12. All side and end members 14a, 15a, 14b and 15b are preferably of hard wood.

A feature of the invention is directed to the arrangement of these side and end members. lower side members 14a and 14b are rectangular in cross section and have the same length and the same transverse dimensions. Similarly, the upper and lower end members 15a and 15b are of the same length and have the same transverse dimensions as the side members 14a and 14b. The upper end members 15a extend entirely across the upper panel 11 along the panels end edges, andthe side members 14:: extend along the side edges of the panel but are spaced from the end members at distances equal to the width of the lower end members 15b which are removably received in the space thus provided.

The lower end members 15b are spaced fromthe rend edges of the lower panel 12 at distances equal to the width of the upper end members 15a, and, similarly, the lower The upper and V side members 14b are spaced from the side edges of the same panel at distances equal to the width of the upper side members 14a. i

Referring now to FIGURES 3 through 6, the outer peripheral surfaces of both panels 11 and 12 are provided with side and end cleats 16 and 17 of thin wide boards. The side cleats 16 extend the full length of each panel 11 and 12, whereas the end cleats 17 extend between the side cleats. Staples 18 are driven through the cleats 16 and 17 into the side members 14a, 15a, 14b and 15b, and, as shown only in FIGURE 4, there are at least two staples in each end of the side cleats engaging the end side members. In addition to the staples 18, the cleats 16 and 17 are bonded with glue or the like to the panels 11 and 12 as indicated at X. It is to be understood that I fasteners other than the staples 18 may be used, for example, nails or screws, not shown. Depending on the w length of the container 10, additional or intermediate cleats 19 may be provided between the side cleats '16 and regularly spaced with reference to the end cleats 17. The intermediate cleats 19 are stapled or otherwise secured to the outer surfaces of the panels Hand 12. The projecting inner edges 20 and 21 of the upper side andend members 14a and 15a, and the outer projecting edges 22 and 23 of the lower side and end members 14b and 15b are round'for readily aligning these members when the two halves of the container 10 are telescopically assem-,

bled. By rounding the remaining projecting edges, not numbered, of each member, fabrication is expedited because either edge may be the inner or outer edge. If the referred to members are made of wood, the round edges reduce splintering.

Layers of sheet stock 24 to be packed are first'and placed on the inner surface of the lower panel 12 between.

the side and end members 14b and 15b, after which the upper half of the container 10 is placed thereon in the manner described and as particularly shown in FIGURE 6. Thereafter the tension'bands 13 are applied around the container 10 at locations over the end and intermediate cleats 17 and 19. The resilient corrugated panels 11 and 12 provide cushions at the free edge surfaces of the side i and end members 14a-15b when the tension bands 13 are applied. The interlocking arrangement of side and end members 14a-15b not only make possible inter changeability of these members, but lends to increased strength as well. i

The invention is not limited to'the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A sheet stock container comprising: upper and lower rectangular panels of the same size, depending end wall members entirely across the lower surface of said upper panel at the end edges thereof, depending side wall members along the lower surface'of said upper panel at the side edges thereof, the ends of said side wall members being spaced from said end wall members, upstanding end and side wall members on the upper surface of said ,lower panel spaced inwardly of the edges thereof at a distance equal to the thickness of said upper. panel depending end and side walls 'and'the outer ends of each end wall member being received in the space between the end and side wall members of the upper paneland being received therein,

surfaces 'of both said panels and extending the lengths I and widths thereof, said cleats being in alignment with .their respective said wall members, and means securing said upper and lower rectangular panels to said depending and upstanding side andend wall members.

2. A sheetstock container as defined in claim 1 and including at least two fasteners in the ends of said cleats along the sides of said upper panel and engaging the said depending wall members across the ends of said upper panel.'

,3. A sheet stock container as defined in claim 1. and wherein the projecting adjoining edges of adjacent depending and upstanding said wall members are round.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McCann Oct. 7, 1919 Nelson et a1 Nov. 15, 1938 Foord Aug. 29, 1950 Ladd Feb. 21, 1961 Acker June 26, 1962' 

1. A SHEET STOCK CONTAINER COMPRISING: UPPER AND LOWER RECTANGULAR PANELS OF THE SAME SIZE, DEPENDING END WALL MEMBERS ENTIRELY ACROSS THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER PANEL AT THE END EDGES THEREOF, DEPENDING SIDE WALL MEMBERS ALONG THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER PANEL AT THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, THE ENDS OF SAID SIDE WALL MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM SAID END WALL MEMBERS, UPSTANDING END AND SIDE WALL MEMBERS ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID LOWER PANEL SPACED INWARDLY OF THE EDGES THEREOF AT A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID UPPER PANEL DEPENDING END AND SIDE WALLS AND THE OUTER ENDS OF EACH END WALL MEMBER BEING RECEIVED IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE END AND SIDE WALL MEMBERS OF THE UPPER PANEL AND BEING RECEIVED THEREIN, ALL OF SAID END WALL MEMBERS BEING OF THE SAME LENGTH AND ALL OF SAID SIDE WALL MEMBERS BEING OF THE SAME LENGTH, AND RECTANGULAR CLEAT MEMBERS ALONG THE PERIPHERAL OUTER SURFACES OF BOTH SAID PANELS AND EXTENDING THE LENGTHS AND WIDTHS THEREOF, SAID CLEATS BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE SAID WALL MEMBERS, AND MEANS SECURING SAID UPPER AND LOWER RECTANGULAR PANELS TO SAID DEPENDING AND UPSTANDING SIDE AND END WALL MEMBERS. 